This buttoned up city takes its shirt off in the summer. You just need to know where to go to discover its live music and dance scene that is more open-air than underground. Amanda Barnes gives us the top spots for tango and live music.
The famous two step is Argentina's most famous dance and a must see while visiting the country. Although BA may be your natural first choice for tango, don't leave Mendoza out of the picture. We have also listed venues with Latin beats, folk and jazz.
The Alameda
During the summer, the Alameda (a tree-line avenue six blocks north of the tourism office in the city) comes to life with people dancing in the streets and playing tango. This bohemian area is the place where locals and young people hang out for a more low-key atmosphere compared to Mendoza's most famous beer street, image conscious Aristides Villanueva. The weekends are filled with people pouring out of popular bars which often have live music. This can be a great place to catch locals playing music and dancing, and as it is in the great outdoors – it is free! Alameda is on Av. San Martin around the 2000 mark.
Aristides/Belgrano
On Friday evenings in the summer you can join in with some locals dancing tango in a lovely little, floer adorned plaza on the corner of Aristides Villanueva and Belgrano called Plazoleta Carlos Vergara. This open-air milonga starts at around 10pm, but don't set your watch because there is a truly Argentine sense of time keeping. Charming if you can catch it.
Tajamar
This restaurant-cum-gallery-cum-theatre hosts regular tango shows on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday nights, and live music and theatre every other night (except Monday when it's closed). With an intimate theatre out the back and a large open bar space with a small stage and art works in the front, it has two spaces for watching performances. This is one of the most dedicated live music and performance bars in the city and draws in a mixed crowd. Tajamar, 1921 Paseo Alameda. (261) 425 6165 www.tajamar.com.ar
Ana y Luis
Dancing duo Ana and Luis have been teaching tourists and locals alike in their classes and weekly milongas for over 5 years. On Tuesdays and Thursdays classes are held at Centro Cultural de la Bancaria (España 1234) for two hours from 9pm where you can learn how to tango. Put your steps into practice at their milonga (a social event where tango is danced) on Sunday nights (officially from 10pm, but naturally not starting until 11.30pm, at San Juan 456). This milonga is popular with silver foxes and a slightly older crowd who enjoy gliding along to the less intimidating 'social' tango dancing style which beginners can easily fall into step with. To see the impressive skirt twirling stuff stick around for one of the 'shows' during the breaks. The venue is a San Juan Resto-Bar, an informal, slightly cheesy, bar in the downtown. They also host live music on other nights.
Contact Ana or Luis on (261) 420 1336, www.anayluistango.com.ar
San Juan Resto-bar, 456 San Juan, (261) 425 7489.
Mendoarte: 11 December to 26 March
As summer really kicks in there are always dance and art festivals around and Mendoarte is one of the longest in Mendoza. Starting on 11 December it is a three month festival with free tango and folkloric dancing classes which are then followed by a performance (by professionals – not those that have just taken the class). Art exhibitions, cinema and a food patio are also included in the festival. For more details visit www.mendoarte.com.ar
Casa Usher
This bohemian hot spot in Alameda hosts a weekly tango performance on Tuesdays. Pulling in a crowd of locals, this trendy hub moves outdoors to the paved streets in the summer leaving the small, eclectic bar for drinkers. On Wednesdays go to a cult favorite, the jazz session. With a mix of performers which keep the boho locale on their toes. During the rest of the week you can catch Latin beats, reggae, rock, folk, live theatre and pretty much anything else.
La Casa Usher, 2259 Alameda, (261) 15 304 3602. 8pm till late, closed on Mondays. Performances start around 11pm on week nights and 12 at the weekend. Approx. $10 entrance.
Long Play
Another popular spot on the Alameda. This retro watering hole has live music Tuesday through Sunday with acoustics on Wednesdays and Sundays, Karaoke Thursdays and salsa and rock in between. It spills out onto the street and has a large loft area for dancing and performances.
Long Play, Remedios de Escalada 2023. 10.30pm to 4am for music, between $5 and $10 entrance.
Soul café
This lounge in the centre has an eclectic mix of regular 'arty' events: from milongas and live music to poetry recitals and comedy nights. There is usually something going on at one of Mendoza's most famous and intimate live music venues.
Galeria Piazza, off De la Reta (near the Sheraton) 423 3530. From 10.30pm, entrance cost varies.
Terrazas, The Hyatt
On weekend nights Terrazas, an outdoor bar at The Hyatt, organises live music to sooth the ears of guests and visitors. You can usually catch some sort of jazz, bossa nova or other dulcet tones. Terrazas, The Hyatt, Chile 1124, (261) 441 1220, from 11pm
To keep updated on the music, dance and other events in Mendoza check out our events page on Wine Republic website. A cultural calendar is regularly updated with what's going on in Mendoza. www.wine-republic.com/events
Or follow our facebook page for more events www.facebook.com/winerepublic
Go Late and with the flow: The great thing about Argentina is its relaxed, spontaneous attitude. Parties, asados and even milongas get organised at the very last minute (literally with five minutes notice). The worst thing about Argentina is also its relaxed, spontaneous attitude. Even if you have had an event planned for six months, it may well be cancelled at the last minute too. So take heed, relax and enjoy whatever happens! As a general rule the events detailed here do happen... at least 80% of the time.
Image copyright Fotalia
